A new project is underway to improve the knowledge of epilepsy and different seizures among police officers. This is part of the Take epilepsy action campaign, launched in September.
Epilepsy Action’s deputy chief executive Simon Wigglesworth recently met with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to discuss the issues around tasers and people with epilepsy.
Epilepsy Action contacted ACPO following a number of high-profile cases where people with epilepsy have been tasered while having, or just after, a seizure. In some cases, people who have been tasered have said they were not fully conscious of their actions because of their seizure, and so were unable to cooperate with the police.
As a result of the meeting, Epilepsy Action will be producing a training video for ACPO. This will help fire-arms officers recognise different seizures, and recognise when a seizure is occurring. ACPO will look to include this in their annual training for officers authorised to use tasers.
Can you help?
Epilepsy Action would like to hear from anyone who has had experience of being tasered before, during or immediately after a seizure. It may be a police officer or community support officer has assumed you are behaving anti-socially. Perhaps you have been tasered by a police officer? We are also looking for positive examples, where a police officer has recognised a seizure and has been able to help.
If you would like to tell us your story, please call the Campaigns team on 0113 210 8800 or email campaigns@epilepsy.org.uk (UK residents only).
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